OREGON'S TREASURED TRAILS

Head to Sisters Country in Central Oregon for a slice of trail-riding heaven.

- KENT

In central Oregon, near the town of Sisters, natural resources and avid equestrians have created rich riding opportunities. Just outside of Sisters lies the 1.6-million-acre Deschutes National Forest (fs.usda.gov/main/deschutes/ home).

Sisters—an 1880s Western-themed town—lies in the heart of what’s known as Sisters Country, a slice of trail-riding heaven nestled on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains, 20 miles northwest of Bend. This region stretches from Sisters to the Pacific Crest Trail. Sisters is named for a trio of volcanic peaks to the west; pioneers knew them as Faith (North Sister), Hope (Middle Sister), and Charity (South Sister).

This area offers a guest ranch with an amazing stable, U.S. Forest Service equestrian camps with corrals, and miles of riding trails over varied terrain. The quaint town of Sisters bubbles with art galleries, boutiques, and dining opportunities.

On a recent equestrian adventure, we explored this region with our trusty mounts, Jake, a Spotted Saddle Horse, and Cody, a Tennessee Walking Horse. (Note: To park at trailheads and for federal campgrounds in this area, you’ll need a Northwest Forest Pass; you can get one at store.usgs.gov.)

Guest Ranch Gem

We were fortunate to spend a few days at Black Butte Ranch (blackbutteranch.com), located 7 miles west of Sisters on U.S. Hwy. 20. This stay was an anniversary treat, and one we had been looking forward to. We weren’t disappointed!

The ranch is situated in the midst of jaw-dropping scenery. From our room, we could see the Cascade Mountain Range caressing a crystal-blue sky. We visited the pool and checked out Phalarope Lake, where colorful mallard ducks noisily squabbled with one another and entertained us with wiggling tail feathers.